The Largest County Jail System Welcomes New @EBILASD Therapy Dog Program

Inmate Services Bureau and Education Based Incarceration Unit (‪#‎EBI‬) are happy to announce their partnership with The Pet Prescription Team, which is a non-profit organization. They provide pet assisted visitations using their certified therapy dogs, to inmates within Los Angeles County jail facilities. There are currently three volunteers from the organization within our Los Angeles County jail facilities. Pet Prescription Team's volunteers Jack Yandell, Ace Mask and Charles Hallenbeck volunteer their time at Twin Towers Correctional Facility. In the near future more volunteers from Pet Prescription Team will also visit our other facilities including Men's Central Jail and Century Regional Detention Facility. Mrs. Krystal Emery, Director of Pet Prescription Team said her main goal of these "therapy" visitations would be to help the inmate's process, connect and help improve their behavior while in jail. According to Mrs. Emery, allowing the inmates to pet the dogs and the mere presence of the dogs could be a very therapeutic interaction for inmates.

Volunteer Ace Mask commented, "of all the visits, therapy dog Kane and I have done, our first visit to Twin Towers Correctional Facility was the most moving moment of all the time I have volunteered for the program. I was totally unprepared for our visit to the psychiatric prisoners (DMH). The Inmates would gently touch our dogs' fur before looking up and thanking us. Then they would move on to allow the next inmate his turn."

Another moving testament from volunteer Jack Yandell; "Today was the start of an experience that rarely happens in a person's lifetime. The experience of walking through the pods (jail living areas) of the various sections of Twin Towers Correctional Facility and bringing a smile and a handshake from some people that have made mistakes in their lives. Those that have medical and mental illness were more than receptive to Coal, Kane and Logan (Therapy Dogs). I was expecting a totally different experience today, but after the very first smile and their faces pressed against the glass vanished any apprehensions I might have had. Is this for everyone? Maybe not, but those that take this step, will be well rewarded with a full heart knowing that you made a difference in some men's and women's lives."

Additional comments from Rick Hallenbeck another volunteer from Pet Prescription Team "Today was a great example of how easy it can be to make assumptions based on our own fears of the unknown. I have to admit prior to going to the Twin Towers correctional Facility today there were some reservations on my part on how we would be treated by the inmates. To my surprise there was nothing but love and respect to our team members and dogs in all the pods we visited. At the end of the day all the inmates seem to be looking for is a caring sole. As we have all seen before at other facilities our dogs bridge the gap of communication and breakdown barriers that sometimes get in the way of just showing someone just how much you care."

This program is held close to the heart of the Pet Prescription Team volunteers and Education Based Incarceration staff. Introducing therapy dogs inside the Los Angeles County jail system is proving to be a great success and a desired program from the inmates.

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